Giuliani Bus Tour Makes Stop in Hampton

By Liz Premo, Atlantic News Staff Writer

Atlantic News, Friday, November 30, 2007

[The following article is courtesy of Atlantic News ]

TOWN HALL TALK -- Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani makes a point during a Q&A session during a town hall meeting held Sunday afternoon at Winnacunnet High School.[Atlantic News Photo by Liz Premo]

HAMPTON -- Republican presidential candidate, Rudy Giuliani continued his bus tour in New Hampshire with a stop at a town hall meeting conducted at Winnacunnet High School.

The visit came on the heels of a busy schedule that had the GOP frontrunner taking part in meet-and-greets and holiday-themed activities held around the state.

A couple hundred people were present at the well-attended event at WHS, which saw the former mayor of New York City welcomed by supporters (as well as sign-holding Ron Paul fan canvassing the parking lot) on Sunday afternoon.

Among those in attendance were former Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci, who was accompanying Guiliani on the bus tour, and former NH Rep. Sheila Francoeur, who introduced him to the audience as "my candidate and your candidate as well."

Greeted by an enthusiastic standing ovation, cheers and waving American flags, Giuliani joked that he would "get you home in time for the Patriots' game - I promise."

During his appearance, Giuliani put the spotlight on a number of campaign issues as well as the 12 Commitments that make up his political platform (found at www.joinrudy2008.com ). Among the numerous topics: Fighting the war on terror, tax reform and energy independence.

Giuliani observed "we have some very big challenges" to face as a country. One challenge is to "keep this country on the offense in the terrorist war against us [waged by] Islamic terrorists," a description which he maintained "the Democrats are afraid to say."

He also maintained that "in order to deal with terrorists and dictators you have to deal with them from strength."

"This is a very complex enemy we face," he added, promising that if elected "we will undo the damage that Bill Clinton did" when that administration cut the military intelligence budget, thus "repeat[ing] the mistakes" made at the conclusion of America's various 20th century conflicts.

"Our future has to be to remain strong," said Giuliani, who says he intends to rebuild the nation's military forces should he be elected president. Moving from the topic of fighting terrorism to the American economy, Giuliani observed that "we want a country that continues to grow" and that "it's our obligation to make America better."

As he is known to do while stumping for votes at various campaign stops, the former NYC mayor touted his success reducing crime and the deficit while serving in that political capacity.

"You will not see anyone who has the results in government that I have," he said.

Giuliani went on to list "four things you can do to stunt growth" - overspend, overtax, overregulated and over-sue - "and the Democrats want to do all four of them." The way to deal with these factors, he said, is "to do the opposite," namely "reduce, reduce, regulate and modify."

Following his remarks, Giuliani took questions from the audience, answering queries ranging from effectively addressing America's energy needs, gun control and the Second Amendment ("I believe it is a personal right"). A self-described pro-life questioner addressed Giuliani's stance on abortion and how it relates to filling potential vacancies on the Supreme Court if elected to the White House.

Giuliani maintained he would appoint justices to interpret the Constitution rather than rule on what they "read into it." The judges' role, he maintained, "is to interpret, not make up the law."

Following the Q&A session, Giuliani thanked his audience and took time for some meet-and-greet handshakes before boarding the bus for his next campaign stop. A "Politics and Eggs" breakfast forum awaited him on Monday morning in Bedford, giving him two days to prepare for a CNN/ YouTube debate scheduled for Wednesday of this week in St. Petersburg, Florida.

New Hampshire voters will determine the presidential nominee for both the Republican and Democratic parties when they head for the first-in-the-nation Primary on Tuesday, January 8, 2008.